2013: Juniper Networks gets new CEO

SUNNYVALE -- Juniper Networks, the second-largest manufacturer of networking equipment, will have a new CEO on Jan. 1 to replace Kevin Johnson, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Shaygan Kheradpir, 52, joins Juniper from Barclays, where he had been chief operations and technology officer. Kheradpir previously had been executive vice president and chief information and technology officer at Verizon Communications.

Johnson, 53, leaves after five years at Juniper and "made a personal decision to retire as CEO of Juniper," company spokeswoman Cindy Ta wrote in an email to this newspaper. "He is retiring to focus on personal priorities; he has no plans to take an operational role elsewhere."

Johnson will remain a member of Juniper Networks' board.

Juniper remains under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The act prohibits U.S. companies from paying bribes to foreign officials to win business. Juniper is "fully cooperating" with the SEC investigation, Ta said.

An analysis by Bloomberg earlier this year found that more than half of Juniper Networks' 2012 sales came from outside the United States.

Scott Kriens, chairman of Juniper Networks' board, said in a statement that Kheradpir "has a proven track record of successful business operations and technology leadership, with industry knowledge and technical vision from the perspectives of both telecommunications service providers and global enterprise. More important, Shaygan's values and vision for the company align very tightly with our own, building a strong foundation for Juniper's future."